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more than four hours' sleep, and often passed whole nights in study and prayer.

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After completing the usual course of study, he was admitted an alumnus, and appointed professor of philosophy, from which chair he had the honour of introducing the Newtonian philosophy into the college. After teaching a course of philosophy, he was appointed professor of divinity; and soon after he published his Letters on the History of the Popes, published by Mr Archibald Bower.' These letters are written in an easy and engaging style, and display various and extensive learning. The object of their author was to point out various errors into which Bower, formerly a Jesuit but then a convert to the episcopalian faith, had fallen; and thus to throw general discredit on a work conceived in a spirit little grateful to a genuine son of the papal church.

In 1745, Mr Butler accompanied the earl of Shrewsbury and the honourable James and Thomas Talbot on their travels through France and Italy. His journal of this tour has been published. On his return he was sent on the English mission.—an employment which he coveted on account of the facilities which a residence in London would afford him for the completion of his great and favourite work, The Lives of the Saints; but to his great disappointment the vicar-apostolic ordered him to join the mission in Staffordshire. Here, however, he did not long remain; for, on the recommendation of Mr Challoner, he was appointed to superintend the education of Edward Howard, the nephew and presumptive heir of Edward duke of Norfolk, whom he accompanied to France for this purpose; but who died before completing his studies at Paris. It was during his residence at Paris, in the capacity of tutor to the young Howard, that Butler completed his 'Lives of the Saints.' His qualifications for this operose work were very considerable. To a perfect command of the Italian, Spanish, and French languages, he added a thorough acquaintance with the Latin and Greek, and some skill as an Orientalist. In exegetical and polemical reading his learning was extensive; he was also skilled in heraldry, and partially acquainted with the medical and cognate sciences. The curious reader will find in the 3d volume of Mr Charles Butler's works a full and valuable specification of the various works of a similar nature to which the author of 'The Lives of the Saints' might have had recourse for the materials of that work. But the extent and minuteness of the investigations pursued by the author in some instances, as in his account of the Manichæans in the life of St Augustine, and of the crusades in the life of St Lewis, prove that his researches were often of the most laborious and original kind. Gibbon has styled our author's Lives" work of merit;"--" the sense and learning," he adds, "belong to the author his prejudices are those of his profession." In the first edition the whole notes were omitted at the suggestion of Dr Challoner, who desired to see the work produced at the least possible expense, in order that it might achieve the greatest possible usefulness. The succeeding editions, however, were enriched with these valuable appendages.

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Some years after the publication of the Lives of the Saints,' Mr Butler gave to the world the Life of Mary of the Cross,' a nun in the English convent at Rouen. Of this work Mr Charles Butler says: "It is rather a vehicle to convey instruction on various important dutics of a reli

William Powell, D. D.

BORN A. D. 1717.—died a. d. 1775.

WILLIAM SAMUEL POWELL was born at Colchester, on the 27th of September, 1717. We have no account of his juvenile years. In 1734 he was admitted of St John's college, Cambridge; in 1739, took his degree of A.B.; in 1740, was elected to a fellowship; and in 1741, entered the family of Lord Viscount Townshend, as private tutor to his lordship's second son Charles. In the same year he was ordained deacon and priest, and instituted to the rectory of Colkirk in Norfolk, on the presentation of Lord Townshend.

In 1744 he became principal tutor in his own college, and drew up an able series of lectures on natural philosophy, which continued to be the text-book at St John's until superseded by the more elaborate publications of Dr Wood and Professor Vince. In 1749 Mr Powell proceeded B.D.; at the commencement in 1757 he was created D D. In the controversy which soon after this last date arose about subscription, Dr Powell took an active share. His commencement sermon was directed principally to the support of subscription and all established forms and usages in the university. He asserted that "young people may give a general assent to the articles, on the authority of others!"

In 1760 he entered into a controversy with Edward Waring, then a candidate for the Lucasian professorship. Waring had published the first chapter of his Miscellanea Analytica,' as a specimen of his qualifications for the chair to which he aspired. Powell commented upon this publication in some anonymous Observations,' which drew forth a vindication from Waring, who completely demolished his antagonist. On the death of Dr Newcombe, master of St John's, no less than seven candidates, one of whom was Powell, started to succeed him. Powell was the successful candidate, having been unanimously elected master on the 25th of January, 1765.

In the first year of his mastership he established college-examinations, and applied himself sedulously to the improvement of the whole routine of college-business. Mr Jebb's proposals, however, with the same view, were sturdily opposed by the master of St John's, who contended that the business of education, both of government and instruction, is conducted with more success under the domestic discipline of each college than it could be under the direction of the senate; and that whatever reformation was really needed could be easily introduced in the separate colleges by the master and fellows.

Dr Powell died on the 19th of January, 1775. His works, chiefly consisting of pulpit discourses, were edited by his friend Dr Balguy. They are acute and close-reasoned performances, written in a style of great perspicuity and purity. "He was," says Cole, "rather a little, thin man: florid and red; with staring eyes, as if almost choked, or as if the collar of his shirt was too high about his neck. He was a man of a rugged and severe discipline; but virtuous, learned, and by no means beloved: his manners were too rigid and untending for the age he lived in. As he was a strict disciplinarian, so he was by nature

positive and obstinate, and never to be beat out of what he had once got into his head; yet he was generous in his temper, and when it was proposed improving the college and walks, at an expense of £800, he called the fellows together, recommended a subscription among its former members of note, and set it a-going by putting down £500."

Samuel Ogden, D.D.

BORN A. D. 1716.-DIED A. D. 1778.

SAMUEL OGDEN was born at Manchester in 1716, and educated at the free-school of his native place. In 1733 he was admitted of King's college, Cambridge. He graduated as B. A. at St John's in 1737, and, eventually, proceeded to the degree of S. T. P. In 1739 he became a fellow of his college; in 1744, master of the free-school at Halifax; about 1753, vicar of Damerham in Wiltshire; in 1764, Woodwardian professor at Cambridge; and, in 1766, rector of Lawford in Essex, and of Stansfield in Suffolk. He also held the cure of St Sepulchre's, at Cambridge, where he obtained considerable notoriety as a preacher. He died on the 23d of March, 1778. "His person, manner, and character of composition," says Wakefield, "were exactly suited to each other. He exhibited a large, black, scowling, grisly figure,-a ponderous body, with a lowering visage, inbrowned by the horrors of a sable periwig; his voice was growling and morose, and his sentences desultory, tart, and snappish." His "uncivilized appearance and bluntness of demeanour were," Wakefield adds, "the grand obstacles to his elevation in the church." The duke of Newcastle would, it is said, have taken him to court, if he had been what his grace termed, 'a producible man.' Dr Halifax, the editor of his sermons, and author of a vindication of his writings against some objections which Mainwaring had preferred against them, says that, notwithstanding the sternness, and even ferocity, which he would sometimes throw into his countenance, Ogden was one of the most humane and tender-hearted men ever known. Cole, the Cambridge antiquary, states, that Dr Ogden was an epicure; that he loved a cheerful glass,-had a great turn for banter and ridicule, and used to sit in company in his night-gown and slippers.

Augustus Toplady.

BORN A. D. 1740.-DIED A. D. 1778.

THIS strenuous champion for the Calvinism of the church of England, was born at Farnham, in Surrey, November 4, 1740. His father was a captain in the army, who died at the siege of Carthagena soon after his son's birth. He received the rudiments of his education at Westminster school; but, it becoming necessary for his mother to take a journey to Ireland to pursue some claims to an estate in that kingdom, he accompanied her thither, and was entered at Trinity college, Dublin, at which seminary he took his degree of bachelor of arts.

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taking orders, he was inducted into the living of Broad Hembury in Devonshire. Here he pursued his labours with increasing assiduity, and composed most of his writings. He had for some years occasionally visited London; but in 1775, finding his constitution much impaired by the moist atmosphere of Devonshire, he removed to London entirely, after some unsuccessful attempts to exchange his living for another of equivalent value in some of the middle counties. In London, by the solicitation of his numerous friends, he engaged the chapel belonging to the French reformed, near Leicester-fields; where he preached twice in the week while his health permitted, and afterwards occasionally, as much as he was well able to do. He died August 11, 1778. His body was buried, agreeably to his own desire, in Tottenham-court chapel. It is supposed that his intense application to study, which he frequently pursued through the night to three or four o'clock in the morning, was the means of inducing his disorder and accelerating his end. He had no preferment in the church besides the vicarage of Broad Hembury, which, as his mind could never brook the idea of living in animosity with his parish upon the account of tithes, did not amount, communibus annis, to eighty pounds a-year. His publications were, 1. The Church of England vindicated from the charge of Arminianism; and the case of Arminian subscription particularly considered; in a Letter to the Rev. Dr Nowell,' 1769.—2. 'The Doctrine of absolute Predestination stated and asserted; with a preliminary Discourse on the Divine Attributes: translated in great measure from the Latin of Jerom Zanchius; with some account of his life prefixed,' 1769. -3. A Letter to the Rev. Mr John Wesley, relative to his pretended abridgment of Zanchius on Predestination,' 1770, 2d edition, 1771.— 4. A Caveat against unsound Doctrines: a Sermon preached at Blackfriars, April 29th, 1770.-5. Jesus seen of Angels; and God's Mindfuluess of Man: three Sermons preached at Broad Hembury, Devon, December 25th, 1770.'-6. Free thoughts on the projected Application to Parliament for the Abolition of Ecclesiastical subscriptions,' 1771. 7. More work for Mr John Wesley or a vindication of the Decrees and Providence of God from the defamations of a late printed paper entitled "The Consequence proved," 1772.-8. Clerical subscription no grievance: a Sermon at the annual Visitation of the archdeaconry of Exeter, May 12th, 1772.-9. Historical Proof of the Doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England,' 1774, 2 volumes 8vo.

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10. 'Free-will and Merit fairly examined; or men not their own Saviours: a Sermon preached at Blackfriars, May 15th, 1774.'—11 'Good News from Heaven; or the Gospel's joyful sound: a Sermon preached at the Lock-chapel, June 19th, 1774.-12. The Scheme of Christian and Philosophical Necessity asserted, in answer to Mr John Wesley's tract on that subject,' 1775.-13. Joy in Heaven, and the Creed of Devils: two Sermons preached in London,' 1775.—14. 'Moral and Political Moderation recommended: a Sermon preached on the general fast, December 13th, 1776.-15. Collection of Hymns for public and private worship,' 1776.-16. His dying avowal, dated Knightsbridge, July 22d, 1778.

The chief object of his writings, as well as of his sermons, was the defence of Calvinism, and the proof that Calvinism was to be found in the articles, &c. of the Church of England. His creed, says one of his

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reviewers, (probably Badcock) was Calvinism in the extreme; and when he reasoned on some of its distinguishing principles, particularly predestination, he discovered no mean talent for disputation. He understood all the niceties of that article; and if his arguments could not convince, his subtleties would confound an Arminian. He would take his adversary on his own ground, and make his own concessions contribute to his defeat. Of this we have a remarkable example related by himself in a letter to Mrs Macauley, in which he tells her of a debate he once had with Mr Burgh, author of the Political Disquisitions.' "I should have had," says he, "a sharp onset if he had been in perfect health. Even as it was, he could not forbear feeling my pulse on the article of free will. In the course of our debate I drove him into this dreadful refuge: viz. that God doth all he possibly can (these were Mr Burgh's own words) to hinder moral and natural evil, but he cannot prevail: men will not permit God to have his wish.'" On Mr Toplady's asking him if this would not render the Deity an unhappy being? he replied, "No; for he knows that he must be disappointed and defeated, and that there's no help for it: and therefore he submits to the necessity, and does not make himself unhappy about it." Of his defences of Calvinism, his Historical Proof' is by far the most able. As a controversialist, in his disputes with Wesley and others, he has been blamed for a degree of acrimony unworthy of his cause; but he possessed a warm and acute imagination, and a degree of zeal which was not always under the guidance of judgment. Against Wesley he may be said to have had a confirmed antipathy, and employed ridicule as well as argument in opposing his opinions and conduct. The last act of his life was to publish what he called his Dying Avowal,' in which he contradicted a report circulated by Wesley or his followers, respecting his having changed his sentiments. In this short piece he informs us that his Arminian prejudices received their first shock from reading Dr Manton's sermons on the xviith chapter of John's Gospel. Besides the works above-mentioned, Mr Toplady was the editor for some years of 'The Gospel Magazine,' begun in 1774; and in it, under the article, 'Review of Books,' will be found some of his bitterest philippics against Wesley. Upon the whole, however, he must be considered as one of the ablest of modern writers in defence of Calvinism, and brought a larger share of metaphysical acuteness into the controversy than any man of his time.1

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Bishop Warburton.

BORN A. D. 1698.-DIED A. D. 1779.

THIS extraordinary man was a native of Newark-upon-Trent. His father was an attorney, and at the usual age young Warburton was articled to a gentleman of his father's profession. On completing his clerkship, he practised some time in his native town, but he either appears to have deserted his profession, or to have been deserted by it. After filling for some time the situation of usher in a school, we find

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Chalmers.-Life published in 1778, 8vo.-Month. Rev. vol. LXX.

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